July poll date set

WEST Aus­tralians will go to the polls to vote in a dou­ble dis­so­lu­tion elec­tion in July.

Prime Min­is­ter Mal­colm Turn­bull ad­vised the Gover­nor-Gen­eral on the week­end to dis­solve both houses of Par­lia­ment and to call an elec­tion for July 2.

The trig­ger came af­ter the Se­nate failed to pass Aus­tralian Build­ing and Con­struc­tion Com­mis­sion re­forms for a third time.

A dou­ble dis­so­lu­tion is a pro­ce­dure per­mit­ted un­der the Aus­tralian Con­sti­tu­tion to re­solve dead­locks be­tween the House of Rep­re­sen­ta­tives and the Se­nate.

If the con­di­tions – or trig­ger – are sat­is­fied, the Gov­ern­ment can re­quest the Gover­nor-Gen­eral to dis­solve both houses of Par­lia­ment and call a full elec­tion.

Ear­lier this year, the Se­nate passed changes to vot­ing meth­ods for elect­ing se­na­tors in each state, mean­ing vot­ers will now be able to num­ber at least six boxes above the line or at least 12 be­low the line.

This method is known as op­tional pref­er­en­tial vot­ing and will mean par­ties and groups can no longer reg­is­ter Se­nate Group Vot­ing Tick­ets to di­rect pref­er­ences, as they have been abol­ished.